Community grieves for drowned boys, dad

The heartbroken family of a man who drowned with his two young sons has cast flowers
into the sea as their close-knit community struggled to come to terms with the
tragedy.
Shane O'Neill, a 28-year-old butcher, dived into dark, choppy waters to try to save
his sons, Riley, 4, and 15-month-old Travis, after the boys fell from Tathra Wharf
on the NSW south coast on Tuesday night.
He had been due to marry his long-time love Stacey Lambert, the mother of his
children, in March.
Grieving relatives comforted each other as they visited the wharf on Thursday,
laying bouquets and throwing flowers into the water.
They nailed a note to the rails of the wharf: "To Uncle Shane and Riley and Travis
we hope you are together and safe, I love you, from Hank," it said in wobbly child's
script.
Bega Valley Shire Council Mayor Tony Allen said locals were still trying to take it in.
"The community is in shock," he told AAP.
"Everyone is still coming to terms with the enormity of the incident."
Mr Allen, who has been mayor for four years, said the couple had grown up in the
Bega area and were well known.
"This is nothing less than a tragic accident ... it's gut-wrenching," he said.
The historic Tathra Wharf, which was refurbished several years ago, was a tourist
icon. Mr Allen refused to comment on safety at the wharf, saying a police
investigation was underway.
Police are also investigating a fight between about 20 men and a group of
journalists at the Commercial Hotel in Bega at about 11pm (AEDT) on Wednesday.
Seven reporter Sarah Cumming, who was not injured, said the fight began over a
graphic on a news bulletin, and ended with a reporter and technician being taken to
hospital.
"It was really quite frightening. There was blood everywhere," she told Macquarie
Radio.
"They were generally just unhappy with us being there in the town," she said.
Police divers spent the day searching the area under the wharf for evidence,
including the pram Travis was in when the boys toppled into the water.
"Tens of thousands of people use the wharf for recreational fishing," Mr Allen said.
"It's been there for 150 years and it's the first incident of this nature."
The community is rallying around Ms Lambert, with $13,500 donated so far to a fund
set up in Mr O'Neill's name.
A spokeswoman for the Horizon Credit Union branch in Bega, where donations can be
made, said staff at the bank knew the family.
"It's a fantastic result, everyone has been very generous," she said.
Mr Allen said one person had put a cheque for $1,000 in a donation box on the
counter of the butchery where Mr O'Neill worked.
"It's a magnanimous response, it's beautiful," he said.
Australian Federal Police said 37-year-old Protective Services Officer Robert Brown,
who dived in after the family, would not be commenting on the tragedy.